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As you move up in your career, the competition at the top becomes tougher and tougher. There are a lot less jobs available for managers than staff so you need to be more prepared than the next person when interviewing for a position. During an interview you are selling your most valuable asset – YOU! The best salespeople do research on their clients. They never go to an appointment unprepared. Therefore, before the interview, you need to spend time researching the company.
If the company is publicly traded, they are required to issue an annual report. Some libraries carry copies of annual reports for many major companies. Carefully read the CEO's letter to their shareholders. You will glean valuable information about the company, how they are doing, where they expect to be in the future and what areas they are focussing their attention on. You can also find their financial reports such as the 10K and 10Q for public companies through Edgar Online (click here for Edgar Online). Reviewing the financial statements will give you an idea about how well the company is doing and if they are experiencing any legal or regulatory problems. Check out the price of their stock and find out what investors think of the company (click here for stock quotes). Is it in an upward trend?
Another great resource is the company's web site (call the company for the address). You may find additional information by conducting a search on the Internet for any articles about the company (current news on publicly traded companies are available through MSFF's stock quotes). Also ask at the reference desk of your local library for information on the company and its related industry. This information will enable you to speak knowledgeably about the company. Additionally, take this information and formulate some well thought out questions to ask during your interview. Remember: "Success is when opportunity meets preparedness". So be prepared!
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